Our democracy is at a critical juncture for voting rights.

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed [[link removed]] the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, important legislation that restores key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would prevent racial discrimination in voting by requiring states to obtain federal approval before enacting specific types of voting changes known to be racially discriminatory.

Now, the legislation heads to the Senate where the legacy of the VRA hangs in the balance.

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With many U.S. Senators committed to blocking the legislation, it clear that removing systemic barriers to voting for Black and Brown communities will take a dynamic effort from a multi-racial coalition. Our very democracy is on the line.

Our communities have done enough research, participated in enough hearings [[link removed]] , and produced enough reports on voter suppression to understand this: our nation is experiencing the most vicious backlash against voting rights we have experienced in decades. The voting rights of Black and Brown people are particularly under assault .

In 2019, Advancement Project, along with our civil rights partners documented persistent voter suppression in communities of color across the nation in the report We Vote We Count [[link removed]] . A recent report [[link removed]] released by the U.S. House Committee on Administration again detailed what we already know, that states are aggressively pursuing voter suppression agenda’s that aim to erect barriers to voting that disproportionately harm Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous and young voters. Their goal is to shut out and shut up the rising majority voters of color, young people, and the disabled

This past week, Advancement Project National Office submitted another report [[link removed]] on voter suppression in Florida to Congress to reemphasize the need for federal oversight of our elections.

Now it is time for Congress to act.

It’s the very reason why we must continue to pressure Congress to pass H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the H.R. 1, the For the People Act, even if it means abolishing the filibuster. Together, these pieces of legislation would restore federal oversight of elections, create national election standards to ensure all voters can cast a ballot, and prevent partisan gerrymandering which robs communities of color of power.

Contact [[link removed]] your U.S Senator today in their district offices and demand they support these two pieces of legislation while their on August recess. Tell them we need bold Congressional action now, not tepid compromises. Take action this weekend by attending the March On 4 Voting Rights [[link removed]] on August 28 th occurring in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix and Houston, in addition to sister marches across the country.

As Congressman John Lewis noted in his posthumous op-ed in the New York Times [[link removed]] “voting rights are almost sacred.” Join us in defending the legacy of the VRA today and ensuring the path our nation chooses is the road that leads to an inclusive democracy.

In solidarity,

Advancement Project National Office

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